Door-to-Door Alarm Sales Rep Dupes Iowa Couple

A Dubuque couple began receiving bills from two alarm companies after a salesman from a legitimate security company convinced the couple that the firm that had been providing their home security had been bought out.

Security Resource

DUBUQUE, Iowa — Police here are warning residents of a security scam after a door-to-door alarm company salesman duped a local couple into receiving a bogus upgrade.

In mid-March, a security alarm sales representative came to the couple’s door, saying that his company had “bought out” the fir the couple was currently using for their home security system. He informed the family that a service technician would need to come by and replace the security system’s main panel and install a new fire sensor, KWWL.com reports.

During the upgrade, the couple did not notice anything suspicious until they began receiving two bills — one from their old security company and one from the new one.
Authorities said both company were legitimate and that neither had bought out the other one.

A department press release noted that the private contractor with the second company was likely trying to reach a number or quota for systems sold and decided to use deceptive sales practices to make the sale.

Dubuque Police also urged residents to contact their current service provider to verify whether or not a company has been sold before agreeing to anything.